AP Chapter 20 Commonwealth and Empire

The Growth of Government As the U.S. economy grew so did the size and strength of the fed. govt. Interstate Commerce Commission (1887) created to end pooling and regulate the RR’s Presidents Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland and Harrison did very little

Southern politics was controlled by the Democrats and their biggest concern was the tariff rates Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)- created the Civil Service System to prevent political patronage that led to Garfield's death in 1881 Civil Service is still used today to award govt. jobs

Farmers and Workers Populist Movement- 3 rd political party that focused its efforts on helping the farmers Grange- national organization of farm owners formed after the CW and many local chapters existed throughout the country

Grangers blamed their hard economic times on the RR’s b/c they controlled the shipping Often times RR’s charged more for a short haul than a long one Granger laws were passed that limited RR rates Munn v. Illinois (1877)- SC upheld the Granger laws Southern Farmers Alliance- movement in the South and West to help small farmers

Workers Search For Power Great Uprising first nationwide strike of RR workers that protested wage cuts Federal troops were sent in to break up the strike Beginning of the long history of govt. supporting businesses over unions

Women Build Alliances Women helped all movements and called for “equal pay for equal work” Francis Willard led the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) that pushed to ban alcohol

WCTU under Willard grew into a very strong and powerful political force National American Woman Suffrage Assc. (NAWSA) leading group that pushed for women’s suffrage Women gradually gained rights in western states

Populism and the People’s Party Populist Party created in 1890 called for govt. ownership of banks, RRs, telephone/telegraph companies, income tax, 8 hr. workday and limits on immigration Populist Party is also known as the People’s Party

The Depression of 1893 Over extension of credit led to a huge economic downturn More than 150 banks closed and 15,000 businesses went bankrupt Unemployment rates hit 25% in some areas

Populist Jacob Coxey led a march on Washington D.C. of unemployed workers demand govt. help Only 600 reached the capital and were called “Coxey’s Army” but quickly disbanded

Coxey’s Army

Coeur d’Alene Mine owners wanted to get rid of the unions and formed a “protective association” and cut wages Union rejected the wage cut and went on strike Strikebreakers were brought in but eventually dispersed and scab labor was hired Owners claimed victory

Homestead Strike 1892 Carnegie and Frick wanted to break the union Workers striking b/c of wage reduction in a steel mill Pinkertons (Strike breakers)- called in to break up the strike Work force was reduced by 25% and so were wages

Pullman Strike (1894) American Railway Union (ARU) was formed by Eugene V. Debs Workers went on strike b/c of wage reduction Workers would not allow the RR cars to leave Chicago They stopped interstate mail Pres. Cleveland sent in federal troops to break the strike b/c the U.S. Mail was delayed

Eugene V. Debs

The Social Gospel Dealt with reconciliation of social reality with Christian ideals Many called for child labor reform Regulation of corporations and its profits Women played a major role in this movement

The Election of 1896 Populist favored “free silver” or the coinage of silver which would raise inflation and make it easier for farmers to repay their debts. William Jennings Bryan gave his famous “Cross of Gold Speech” at the convention William McKinley (R) defeated Bryan (D/P) in a close election

Populist Party gradually lost influence 3 rd Political Parties often fail at winning office but their ideas often become laws Dingley Tariff of set tariff rates at all time high Gold Standard McKinley officially put the U.S. on the gold standard

The Age of Segregation Nativist hated immigrants and passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 Jim Crow laws were created throughout the South to separate the races Blacks faced literacy tests, grandfather clause, poll taxes and outright terror

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) established the principle of “separate but equal” African Americans were barred from public office and could not serve on juries Race riots occurred throughout the country Ida B. Wells became a crusader against lynching

Imperialism Sen. Albert J. Beveridge (R) said the U.S. needed to find new markets for its goods White Man’s Burden- our job to help civilize and Christianize the people of Africa and the Pacific Mission trips rose to help spread the Christian faith

Overseas Empire Purchased Alaska in 1867 “Seward’s Icebox” for $7.2 million Good Neighbor Policy- goal was for peace and order in Latin America Hawaii was annexed in 1898 mainly for military/trading purposes Open Door Policy- Sec. of State John Hay opened up trade with China

Open Door Policy

The Spanish American War Spain had controlled Cuba since the days of Columbus NYC newspapers owned by Hearst and Pulitzer used Yellow Journalism to sell papers Stories of the atrocities in Cuba were often sensationalized and angered Americans

Feb U.S. sends the USS Maine to show the flag but mysteriously blows up Papers blame the Spanish and Americans were furious Despite giving into the U.S. demands we still went to war with Spain in April 1898 U.S. easily won the war that lasted only a few months

Outcome of the War Platt Amendment- Cuba had to give us a naval base and we had a lot of control over them We acquired Guam and Puerto Rico and paid $15 million for the Philippines T. Roosevelt referred to it as “A Splendid Little War”

Issues in the Philippines After the war Filipino troops attacked the U.S. troops when it was apparent that we were not going to leave War dragged on until 1902 and cost over 4,300 American lives 1946 Philippines gained its independence

Arguments over Imperialism For Expansion Need a market for our goods White Man’s Burden Spread democracy If we don’t do it someone else will Against Expansion Violated the principle of democracy Went against our policy of neutrality We were doing what the British did to us

Conclusion Granger and Populist movements tried to help the farmers regulate the RRs Unions struggled to gain support U.S. became a world power